"If it happened in April ... I'd probably want to shoot myself. But you've just got to go out there and work on stuff. It was
positive because I threw a lot of changeups and I felt good."

 Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny, on his initial Spring Training outing, in which he gave up six runs and seven
hits in two innings. Penny threw 14 curveballs and nine changeups in the outing.
(Los Angeles Times)

"I'm healthy, and I'm good to go. No question in my mind. The questions still come up. 'How's your elbow?' 'How's your arm?'
I proved I was healthy at the end of last year."

"She knows about it because I told her on the phone. But she hasn't seen me yet. She probably won't recognize me."

 Mariners All-Star second baseman Jose Lopez, on the expected reaction of his girlfriend, who has yet to see
his new shaved head.
(The Seattle
Times)

"No matter the size of the paycheck, I love being in Texas. The only thing I don't love is us not being able to win. But I
wanted to be here to help change that, and we will change that.
"This new contract, it's all crazy money to me. But it won't change how I play the game, or my attitude about the game, the
same as my previous contract never changed anything."
 Texas Rangers second baseman Michael Young after signing a seven-year contract extension with the
Rangers.
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

"I just want to come back in here and let everyone know I'm back with them, I'm on the Yankees again. This is my team and I'm
backing these guys and I'm behind them."
 New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, on his feeling toward his "new" team. Pettitte returned to the
Yankees this offseason after spending three seasons in Houston.
(Newsday)

"I've come a long way in five years. Prospect? I'm not worried about being a prospect. You've got to perform and do what
you've got to do.
"If I'm not a top prospect, it's not going to bother me much. You've got to be good to pitch at this level."
 Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dustin McGowan, on his attempt to make the team this spring. McGowan was once
considered one of the top prospects in the organization but has been sidetracked by Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery
that forced him to miss the 2004 season and diabetes.
(Toronto Star)

"I thought when I showed up in camp I was going to definitely make it for the first day of the (regular) season without the
shadow of a doubt. But I also realize I didn't do any baseball activities in the offseason because my
rehab wouldn't let me. Once I started getting into baseball activities, I knew it would take me a little more time, because
swinging the bat or throwing is a little more strenuous than doing 10 sets of five-pound weights."

 Arizona outfielder Jeff DaVanon, on his recovery from offseason shoulder and ankle surgery, which is taking
a little longer than he expected and may force him to miss the start of the regular season.
(East Valley Tribune)

"I felt like I threw the ball pretty well. I didn't hit anybody and all my breaking stuff was there. I'll probably take a day
and see how it feels tomorrow and then throw one more, and then I should be ready."

 Tampa Bay pitcher Casey Fossum, who had left shoulder surgery in September, after throwing 43 pitches before
Monday's exhibition game. Fossum mixed in all his pitches to Jason Grabowski and Joel Guzman and now hopes to
pitch in an exhibition game after one more live batting practice session, barring any setbacks.
(St. Petersburg
Times)

"We're trying to look at 10, 12, 15 years down the road. I think Jon [Lester] has finally accepted that. It's hard for him
because he wants to go out there and be on the same schedule as everyone else, and in the drills we performed, he was. But
we're just trying to be smart."

 Boston pitching coach John Farrell, on limiting Lester to one inning of work despite Lester needing
only eight pitches to record three outs in his first spring outing. Lester is coming off a winter when he was treated for
anaplastic large cell lymphoma and the Red Sox don't want to rush him back.
(The Boston Globe)

"He got to two innings so efficiently that we really felt we were cutting him short by just letting him throw two. Your goal
first time out is two (innings) or 40 (pitches). He had like 19 (pitches) after two innings. He was making pitches, he was
quick. It was really pleasant to watch him pitch for us. We've seen him pitch a lot the last couple of years (for St. Louis).
But, man, it sure was nice to see him pitch for us."

 Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost, on why he decided to let pitcher Jeff Suppan go three innings
instead of just his scheduled two innings during Monday's exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox.
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

"The last thing I want to do is come in here and think I'm on the team already and blow it. And I still don't think I've made
the team quite yet. I've got a lot to prove, and two Spring Training games don't do it. If it's during the regular season and
I'm pitching well, that's different. Right now, I'm competing and making progress every time out. I'm trying to stay as
focused as I can.

 St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, penciled in as the Cardinals' third or fourth starter,
commenting on how he sees his status with the team.
(St. Louis Post Dispatch)

"I'm trying to hit with more of an attitude this year. I see the fire that (Gary Sheffield) hits with and I want some of
that. I think I need some of that."

 Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge, on adapting a new, more angry attitude at the plate in 2007.
(Detroit
Free Press)

"I want our child to see me in uniform. I'm 35, so the pressure's on. If I want our child to remember Dad as a ballplayer, I
have to stay in great shape and play a few more years."

 Minnesota veteran Rondell White, who hopes to stay healthy and stick around the Major Leagues until his
first child, due later this year, can remember that he was a big-league ball player.
(Minneapolis Star Tribune)

"Scotty (Rolen) told me once that he never said a word until his third year in the Majors. That's the kind of thing I heard
and that's why I keep my mouth shut in the clubhouse, keep the talking down. That's one thing that has stuck with
me."

 St. Louis Cardinals second-year starting pitcher Anthony Reyes, giving his thoughts on the role of young
players in the locker room.
(St. Louis Post Dispatch)

"This year I expect good things. I expect to stay healthy. I'm going to prepare myself for 162 ball games. Hopefully, I don't
need to pitch 162 ball games, but if that's what the team needs, I'll try to do what I can."

 Philadelphia reliever Tom Gordon, making himself available to pitch every night in 2007 if needed.
(The Philadelphia
Inquirer)

"I don't like being just good at a position. I want to be the best. I can't say I'm one of the best right now, obviously,
because it takes a lot of reps. But I can work to be as good as I can be this year, and that's what I'm planning to
do."

 Pittsburgh infielder Freddy Sanchez, on his goal to become a great player in multiple positions.
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

"I've said all along this spring that I prepared physically and mental to be a starter. I want to take that fifth spot and go
with it."

 Cincinnati Reds pitcher Matt Belisle, who has made his intentions to make the Reds' rotation very clear.
(The
Cincinnati Enquirer)